Eric Joyce faces no action over Commons bar fight

Falkirk MP Eric Joyce is not to face charges following his arrest over an alleged brawl in a House of Commons bar.

The Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday there was “insufficient evidence” to bring charges against the former army major over the reported incident earlier this month.

It said statements taken from witnesses to the alleged fracas in the Commons Sports and Social Club had contained “multiple inconsistencies”.

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“Although there appears to have been an incident on the evening in question, evidence obtained from witnesses contained multiple inconsistencies and there is insufficient evidence that Mr Joyce committed any offence,” a spokesman said.

“On this basis, we have concluded there is insufficient evidence to support a realistic prospect of conviction and that no further action should be taken.”

The Sports and Social Club was said to have been packed with revellers attending a karaoke night when trouble reportedly flared on 14 March.

After his arrest, Mr Joyce, 52, was held at London’s Belgravia police station for about 20 hours before being released on police bail.

The MP – who was elected as a Labour member but now sits as an independent – was convicted of assault last year after an incident in another Commons bar.

He admitted four counts of assault and was given a 12-month community order, fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,400 in compensation to his victims.

Following the latest incident, he was banned by the Commons authorities from purchasing alcohol anywhere in the Palace of Westminster.

Mr Joyce said: “I was involved in the margins of the fracas and clearly it was the first time I had been back in a bar for over a year. That was a shame. But the fact is the police have looked at it now for two weeks and there is to be no further action.”